HORSE HILL NATURE PRESERVE

AD HOC COMMITTEE

Minutes of Monday, October 3, 2005

Courtroom at Town Hall

7:30 p.m.

 

Members Present:  Denise O’Dwyer, Helynne Wenz, Connie Kreider, Debra Huffman,  Janet Cormier, Ruth Roulx, Harold Watson, Newton Coryell, Andy Powell

 

Also Present:  Andy Sylvia

 

Call to Order: Denise O’Dwyer called the meeting to order at 7:34 p.m. (Chairman Tenhave was unable to attend.)

 

Announcements and Updates: Denise O’Dwyer made the following announcements:

*     There will be a forestry workshop in Lyndeboro on 10/18 at 4:00. Andy Powell added that there will be an all-day workshop in Boscawen on 11/10/05 which will cover the current rules of forestry including wetland crossings.

*     Parking lot update – Newton Coryell met with Brad Knight (the developer) and Walter Warren. They will start excavation the week of 10/10. Newt has lined up two dump trucks from volunteers to haul material and he is looking for one more. They will ask John Lastowka to mark his water line and they will work with Dig Safe to ensure that no other lines are impacted. Janet Cormier commented that there should be an acknowledgement of the donations. Debra Huffman asked if the Conservation Commission was comfortable with recycled asphalt as the fill material so close to the wetlands. Andy Powell responded that UNH studies show no problems with this material.

*     Denise distributed the proposal for the Definitive Plan.

*     Denise reminded the committee and viewing audience that it is now hunting season and everyone should wear hunter orange in the woods. Andy Powell asked that the hunting season dates be posted on the town web site.

 

Approval of Minutes: The minutes of 9/12/05 were accepted as amended on a vote of 6-0-3.

 

Web Site: Denise reported that Tim Tenhave would like to receive final comments on the new web site design by Friday, 10/7/05. On a motion by Newton Coryell with a second by Connie Kreider, the committee voted to move the new web site forward to the town by a vote of 9-0-1.

 

Open Issues List: The committee reviewed the list of open issues distributed by Tim at the last meeting. Connie Kreider commented that she believed the list should be alphabetized. As it stands, it seems to be a prioritized list, and that is not necessarily the case. Andy Powell noted that the Definitive Plan will address most of these issues.

 

User and Wildlife Surveys: Denise announced that the committee will be putting together a draft of a user survey. Anyone who wants to help with this survey should contact Tim. The wildlife survey will require more research and Tim will work with the Wildlife subcommittee to start this process.

Janet Cormier asked if the BOS had approved the committee putting together a user survey. She also commented that the BOS should tell the committee what information they want to gather, and commented that there should be a discussion of how the survey will be administered. Denise responded that the Town Manager has spoken with the committee about the survey but she was unsure if the BOS had commented on it. She said the method of administration was being discussed but had not been decided.

 

Reports from Subcommittees:                       

 

Clean-up Subcommittee – Newton Coryell reported that he and other members of the SnoBuds removed the pile of metal debris that was left on Old Kings Hwy. They also worked on the metal pieces near the trail behind Watson’s. They stockpiled these items on logs so they will not freeze in. They will remove them in the winter when the ground is firm. Newton asked whether the Bates Road extension is a Class 6 road so it could be used for trash removal. Andy Powell responded that the town is doing an aerial survey and using GPS to clarify the whole area. Newton estimates that he and his team have removed eleven vehicles and other car parts.

 

No other subcommittees filed a report.

 

Definitive Plan: The staff is moving forward with this. Tim and Denise will be meeting with the NRPC to discuss details. Denise encouraged anyone on the committee and anyone in the town to participate in this process. It is expected to be an intensive three-month program.

 

Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m.